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Intervention specialist vs school counselor

The differences between intervention specialists and school counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an intervention specialist has an average salary of $50,180, which is higher than the $49,904 average annual salary of a school counselor.

The top three skills for an intervention specialist include mental health, social work and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a school counselor are mental health, community resources, and crisis intervention.

Intervention specialist vs school counselor overview

Intervention SpecialistSchool Counselor
Yearly salary$50,180$49,904
Hourly rate$24.12$23.99
Growth rate9%10%
Number of jobs69,15691,275
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age4542
Years of experience4-

What does an intervention specialist do?

An intervention specialist is responsible for assisting children with special education and social adjustment needs in schools and other educational settings. You will be responsible for designing, executing, and assessing programs based on different factors, including gender, cultural background, and age. Other tasks that you will likely perform include working closely with teachers to discuss the subject matter with students, ensuring children and occupied and safe, and maintaining records of children's performance and lesson plans. An intervention specialist is also responsible for adhering to individualized education programs.

What does a school counselor do?

A school counselor is responsible for monitoring the students' social and personal development, advising them of their career aspirations, and assisting them with their academic achievements and goals. School counselors also ensure that the students receive the highest learning standards to pave their way towards society's advancement and global competitiveness. They evaluate students' behavior through personal counseling, understanding their challenges, and develop strategies to overcome their needs. A school counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills, supporting students with their goals, and honing their skills efficiently.

Intervention specialist vs school counselor salary

Intervention specialists and school counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Intervention SpecialistSchool Counselor
Average salary$50,180$49,904
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $70,000Between $36,000 And $68,000
Highest paying CityAlameda, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyBirchThe Gow School
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between intervention specialist and school counselor education

There are a few differences between an intervention specialist and a school counselor in terms of educational background:

Intervention SpecialistSchool Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common majorPsychologySchool Counseling
Most common collegeUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of Pennsylvania

Intervention specialist vs school counselor demographics

Here are the differences between intervention specialists' and school counselors' demographics:

Intervention SpecialistSchool Counselor
Average age4542
Gender ratioMale, 30.4% Female, 69.6%Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage15%11%

Differences between intervention specialist and school counselor duties and responsibilities

Intervention specialist example responsibilities.

  • Conduct mental health triage; make appropriate dispositions to other inpatient units with the local area.
  • Coordinate with parents, general education teachers, service providers in all aspects of the IEP and ETR annual review process.
  • Assist families with children with autism and other developmental disabilities.
  • Track students' GPA, college and career goals.
  • Supervise employees and train for EIS certification through DARS and state of Texas.
  • Perform crisis phone triage, mobile face to face assessments and arrange for respite services.
  • Show more

School counselor example responsibilities.

  • Manage open houses, recruitment, and conduct interviews for GED student enrollment.
  • Travel to professional conferences and to visit colleges and universities across the country for professional development.
  • Attend educational meetings (IEP, IST, CCT, etc . )
  • Create and implement FBA's.
  • Complete CPR training and other necessary training classes.
  • Communicate with DCF in regards to students as needed
  • Show more

Intervention specialist vs school counselor skills

Common intervention specialist skills
  • Mental Health, 13%
  • Social Work, 9%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%
  • Classroom Management, 5%
  • Group Sessions, 5%
  • IEP, 4%
Common school counselor skills
  • Mental Health, 10%
  • Community Resources, 8%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%
  • Professional Development, 5%
  • Behavioral Issues, 4%
  • CPR, 4%

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